Abstract: A supporting structure for concurrently supporting a plurality of vials is provided. The supporting structure includes a carrier having apertures or receptacles, into which the vials can be inserted to be supported therein on the carrier. The vials have a bottom that forms a base, a cylindrical side wall, and an annular transition region between the base and the cylindrical side wall. The carrier has a retaining protrusion at a lower end of the aperture or receptacle that extends into the respective aperture or receptacle inward in radial direction. The retaining protrusion supports the vial in cooperation with the transition region outside the base in such a manner that the bottoms or bases of the vials jut out of the apertures or receptacles of the carrier and are freely accessible from the lower side of the carrier.

Abstract: A supporting structure for concurrently supporting a plurality of containers having a predetermined length for medical, pharmaceutical or cosmetic applications comprises a carrier having a plurality of supporting means for supporting the containers on the carrier, optionally, at least in a first orientation (e.g. upright) or in a second orientation (upside-down or also upright). According to the invention the carrier is matched to the lengths of the containers such that the upper ends of the containers are arranged in the first position at the same distance to the carrier as the lower ends of the containers in the second position and that the upper ends and/or lower ends of the containers are accessible for a further processing of the containers while they are supported on the carrier.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are provided for treating or processing containers that are used for storing substances for medical, pharmaceutical or cosmetic applications or contain the same. During the process, cylindrical containers open at least at one end are automatically led past or pass through processing stations for treatment or processing by means of a conveying device, while the containers are jointly held by a carrier in a regular two-dimensional arrangement. The carrier includes a plurality of openings or receptacles that determine the regular arrangement. The treatment or processing of the containers is performed on or in at least one of the processing stations while the containers are supported by the carrier.

Abstract: A transport and packaging container for a plurality of pharmaceutical containers and a method for transferring the pharmaceutical containers from the transport and packaging containers into a clean room are provided. By placing a side wall of the transport and packaging container in close proximity to or in contact with the side wall of the clean room and by opening the side wall of the transport and packaging container and a transfer port door of the clean room, the pharmaceutical containers can be transferred into the inside space of the clean room via the access opening.

Abstract: A glass is disclosed that is particularly suitable as pharmaceutical packing medium and as a chemically pre-stressable glass comprising at least the following components (in mol-% on oxide basis): 64-77 SiO2, 5-14 Al2O3, 4-12 Na2O, 1-12 CaO, 0-14 MgO, 0-2 ZrO2, 0-4.5 TiO2, wherein the ratio Al2O3/Na2O?1, wherein the ratio Al2O3/CaO?1.5, and wherein the total content SiO2+Al3O3<82 mol-%. Preferably, a working temperature T4 of less than 1350° C. and a hydrolytic resistance according to DIN ISO 719 HGB1 and according to ISO 720 HGA are obtained.

Abstract: A method for sterile packaging of a plurality of containers is provided that includes: providing a carrier in which a plurality of receptacles are formed, the receptacles being formed by a closed bottom and a circumferential side wall, the upper ends of the receptacles, which are opposite to the respective bottom, are open and circumferential connecting webs are provided at the upper ends; placing the containers in the receptacles; providing a gas-impermeable protective foil; bonding the protective foil along the connecting webs with the upper surface of the carrier to package all the receptacles with the containers accommodated individually therein; and sterilizing the receptacles with the containers accommodated therein and/or the inner volumes of the containers by a gas flowing into the receptacles and/or into the inner volumes of the containers through at least one gas-permeable portion.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for packaging a plurality of containers for substances for medical, pharmaceutical or cosmetic applications in a packaging structure. The structure has a box-shaped upper part and a box-shaped lower part, forming a box-shaped receptacle in which the containers are accommodated. The plurality of containers are disposed directly on the bottom of the lower part that the containers are supported vertically on the bottom of the lower part, and the upper part is put onto the upper ends of the containers. The positions of the containers on the lower part are secured using side walls that project vertically from the bottom of the lower part and/or of the upper part, and the upper part and/or the lower part is configured and provided in a way that the containers are in direct contact with each other in the box-shaped receptacle and cannot be displaced relative to each other.

Abstract: A process for the treatment or processing of containers is provided. The process includes automatically conveying the containers past a processing station for the treatment or processing by or through a conveying device and then inserting the containers into a transport or packaging container having a bottom, a circumferential side wall and an insertion opening opposite to the bottom. In some embodiments, a plurality of containers are placed on a flat supporting base so that the bottoms of the containers directly rest on the flat supporting base; the containers, while resting on the flat supporting base, are conveyed to a processing station by the conveying device to be treated or processed; and after the treatment or processing of the containers, the transport or packaging container is placed on the flat supporting base so that all the containers of the plurality of containers are accommodated in the transport or packaging container.

Abstract: An optical converter system for (W)LEDs, and a method for producing the optical converter system are provided. The optical converter system includes an inorganic converter for converting the radiation emitted from the LED, an inorganic optical component, such as glass, disposed downstream relative to the converter in the direction of emission of the LED. The converter and the first optical component are adjacent to one another and joined at least in sections.

Abstract: In a process and apparatus for treating or processing containers (2) that are used for storing substances for medical, pharmaceutical or cosmetic applications or contain the same, cylindrical containers open at least at one end are automatically led past or pass through processing stations for treatment or processing by means of a conveying device, while said containers are jointly held by a carrier (25; 134) in a regular two-dimensional arrangement. The carrier comprises a plurality of openings or receptacles (32; 39; 87; 120), which determine the regular arrangement. According to the invention, the treatment or processing of the containers is performed on or in at least one of the processing stations while the containers are supported by the carrier. This opens up new possibilities for treating or processing the containers, for example when crimping metal lids or during freeze-drying.

Abstract: Disclosed is a transport and packaging container for accommodating a plurality of cylindrical containers for substances, comprising at least two segments of which each can be handled separately and which can be assembled or stuck together to jointly form the transport and packaging container, wherein a first segment of the at least two segments has a bottom for supporting the plurality of containers, and positioning devices are provided for positioning the plurality of containers in the interior of the transport and packaging container in a regular arrangement in such a manner that a collision of the directly adjacent containers is prevented, and wherein at least one of the segments comprises sealing means. The containers can be processed in the transport and packaging container or also in a supporting structure, particularly at very high temperatures of up to 330° C. and preferably up to 350° C.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical converter system for LEDs, preferably for so-called (W)LEDs, and a method for producing the named optical converter system. The modular-type optical converter system comprises an inorganic converter for converting the radiation emitted from the LED, an inorganic optical component, preferably comprising glass, which is disposed downstream relative to the converter in the direction of emission of the LED, wherein the converter and the first optical component are adjacent to one another and joined at least in sections. The optical converter system possesses a temperature resistance, which lies above that of the system known in the prior art. Also, the preferred components of the system are substantially resistant to UV and to chemicals.

Abstract: A glass ceramic is provided that has an upper surface, a lower surface, and a surface zone of at least 10 nm thickness that is substantially amorphous so that a content of crystalline phases in the surface zone is at most 20 vol %. The glass ceramic has at least one lateral pattern with periodic and/or quasi-periodic features with a mean feature spacing of not more than 200 ?m. The features are defined by depressions in the material of the surface zone so that the pattern as a whole does not protrude beyond the surface level. The features have a depth that is smaller than a thickness of the surface zone and do not extend into the region of the glass ceramic that has a higher content of crystalline phases.

Abstract: Disclosed is a transport and packaging container for accommodating a plurality of cylindrical containers (2) for substances, comprising at least two segments (320, 330) of which each can be handled separately and which can be assembled or stuck together to jointly form the transport and packaging container (1), wherein a first segment (330; 320) of the at least two segments has a bottom (333; 323) for supporting the plurality of containers (2), and positioning devices (324; 25) are provided for positioning the plurality of containers (2) in the interior of the transport and packaging container (1) in a regular arrangement in such a manner that a collision of the directly adjacent containers (2) is prevented, and wherein at least one of the segments (320, 330) comprises sealing means (327, 328, 334, 335, 130).

Abstract: A process and apparatus are provided for treating or processing containers that are used for storing substances for medical, pharmaceutical or cosmetic applications or contain the same. During the process, cylindrical containers open at least at one end are automatically led past or pass through processing stations for treatment or processing by means of a conveying device, while the containers are jointly held by a carrier in a regular two-dimensional arrangement. The carrier includes a plurality of openings or receptacles that determine the regular arrangement. The treatment or processing of the containers is performed on or in at least one of the processing stations while the containers are supported by the carrier.

Abstract: A packaging unit for at least one pharmaceutical, medical, or cosmetic item is provided. The packaging unit includes a sterilizing chamber for accommodating the item and a prechamber that can be sealed repeatedly both from an exterior of the packaging unit and from the sterilizing chamber. The prechamber has a wall that has portions made of a wall material that is selectively permeability to one or more sterilizing agents.

Abstract: The production of optoelectronic components, optical components being mounted in the composite wafer. Provided to this end is a method for producing optoelectronic components, in particular image signal acquiring or image signal outputting components, in the case of which optical components are respectively provided, picked up and mounted on a wafer, the optical components preferably respectively being positioned individually or in groups relative to the position of assigned optoelectronic or optical components of the wafer or of a wafer to be connected thereto.

Abstract: An integral homogeneous rod lens and the manufacturing thereof from a raw glass body are provided by melting the raw glass body in a mold, whereby a protruding part of the raw glass body deforms into a dome shape with a spherical or nearly spherical surface that defines a convex lens portion of the rod lens.

Abstract: A method for sterile packaging of a plurality of containers is provided that includes: providing a carrier in which a plurality of receptacles are formed, the receptacles being formed by a closed bottom and a circumferential side wall, the upper ends of the receptacles, which are opposite to the respective bottom, are open and circumferential connecting webs are provided at the upper ends; placing the containers in the receptacles; providing a gas-impermeable protective foil; bonding the protective foil along the connecting webs with the upper surface of the carrier to package all the receptacles with the containers accommodated individually therein; and sterilizing the receptacles with the containers accommodated therein and/or the inner volumes of the containers by a gas flowing into the receptacles and/or into the inner volumes of the containers through at least one gas-permeable portion.

Abstract: A rod lens and methods for producing such a rod lens are disclosed. The rod lens and methods include a sealing glass and holder glass or a metallic holder that are heated so that only the sealing glass melts and forms a spherical cap to define a lens element joined to a light guiding element. A plurality of rod lenses may form an array arrangement.